Page 43 - General Epistles (James through Jude) Textbook

Third, in light of the new birth caused by God’s great mercy that
produced in them some results, they were required to conduct
themselves in reverent fear (1 Pet. 1:17-21).
Since they knew that their God would judge fairly, Peter cautioned their
complacence of leading lives that did not demonstrate or comprised of the fear
of God. This could have been caused by their atmosphere in which intense
suffering was relentless. Regardless of their difficulty circumstances, reverent
fear of God the Father needed to be upheld continuously. The reason for living
in the reverent fear of God is because of God’s redemption of them from their empty way of life handed
down to them by their ancestors. That redemption was not bought on their behalf with silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. “Redeem” is one of the basic
terms for salvation in the New Testament. . . It stems from the ancient practice of making payment to
free a prisoner of war, purchase an animal, buy back land sold due to poverty, or free a slave.” That
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redemption was not planned or executed at the time of their conversion, but God foreplaned it by
choosing Jesus Christ before the creation of the world for their sake. Through Jesus Christ, we believed
in God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and glorified Jesus Christ. In this way, their faith and hope
were in God.

Now, it is important to have one’s faith and hope be in someone who raises from the dead and glorifies.
In most cases (if not all) we fix our faith and hope in ourselves, properties, beauties, and richest
countries. We put our faith and hope in things that perishes. Peter is encouraging us to put our faith and
hope in someone who is infinite. Not only is God infinite but gives life back and glorifies so that we
might not struggle again with the presence of sin. Are we ready today to begin to put our faiths and
hopes in God?

Fourth, in light of the new birth caused by God’s great mercy that produced in them some
results, Peter’s audience needed to love one another (1 Pet. 1:22—2:1).
This time, there was no excuse for them not to love one another deeply because they were purified by
obeying the truth. The truth that teaches what love is and how to love one another transformed them
and was in them. Osborne notes that “purifying yourselves.”. . refers both to obeying the gospel truth
when coming to Christ and to the ongoing obedience to Christian truth that then characterizes the
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believer’s life.” On the quotation of the passage from Isaiah, Osborne’s summary is worthy noting.

The reason for the confidence of the believers is that in total contrast to the human pronouncements of
the Roman magistrates, “the word of the Lord remains forever” (1:25a, from Isa 40:8) . . . In Isaiah, this
centered especially on the prophecies and covenant promises God had made through Isaiah to a
discouraged Israel. Here it refers to the covenant promises now made to a discouraged new Israel. The
pronouncements and charges of the enemies of the church are short-lived, made by short-lived people
in short-lived situations. What God says and what he does last forever, and they are delivered to a
people who have eternal life. . . Likewise, we, who are under far less pressure but tempted to surrender
to the elusive power of affluence and materialistic success, should realize how temporary and senseless
that success is when compared to the eternal glory we share with Christ. Finally, Peter wants his readers
to realize that the eternal word of God is identical with “the Good News that was preached to” them
(1:25b).
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